The element, Curium was named after the famous scientists, Pierre and Marie Curie. It was discovered by Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, and Albert Ghiorso in 1944 at the University of Chicago. On the periodic table of elements, Curium is part of the Actinide series, making it a Rare Earth Element. It was the third transuranium element (an element with an atomic number greater than 92) to be synthesized, so it does not occur naturally on Earth. Curium has very few uses outside of research, although it is a potential isotope power source (produces three watts of energy per gram).
From left to right: Pierre and Marie Curie, Albert Ghiorso, Glenn T. Seaborg
Curium is intensely radioactive, and is 3000 times more radioactive (emits radiation from changes in the nuclei of the atoms) than Radium. It's standard state is solid and it's appearance is a silver-colored metal. Curium is very toxic, as it accumulates in the bones and disrupts the formation of red blood cells. Several isotopes of curium were found in the Ivy Mike nuclear test.
Curium (Cm) #96
By Wenzer QinThe element, Curium was named after the famous scientists, Pierre and Marie Curie. It was discovered by Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, and Albert Ghiorso in 1944 at the University of Chicago. On the periodic table of elements, Curium is part of the Actinide series, making it a Rare Earth Element. It was the third transuranium element (an element with an atomic number greater than 92) to be synthesized, so it does not occur naturally on Earth. Curium has very few uses outside of research, although it is a potential isotope power source (produces three watts of energy per gram).
Curium is intensely radioactive, and is 3000 times more radioactive (emits radiation from changes in the nuclei of the atoms) than Radium. It's standard state is solid and it's appearance is a silver-colored metal. Curium is very toxic, as it accumulates in the bones and disrupts the formation of red blood cells. Several isotopes of curium were found in the Ivy Mike nuclear test.
Symbol: Cm
Atomic Number: 96
Atomic Mass: 247 AMU*
Protons: 96
Electrons: 96
Neutrons: 151
Melting Point: 1345°C
Boiling Point: About 3100°C
Density: 13.51 g/cm3
* An "Atomic Mass Unit" is equal to 1/12 the mass of the most abundant isotope of carbon, carbon 12, which is assigned a mass of 12.
Sources:
http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/96.html
http://www.webelements.com/curium/
http://home.centurytel.net/apurdy/element_91_100.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0814300.html
http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele096.html